On November 27, Metropolitan Pavel of Manila and Hanoi, Administrator of the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam, celebrated a prayer service at the Church of Blessed Matrona of Moscow in Davao, Philippines.
Following the service, the archpastor addressed those gathered:
“Dear brothers and sisters! I thank everyone for the shared prayers we offered during the prayer service to our patroness of this church, Blessed Matrona of Moscow, and of course, we thank the Lord God today for His immeasurable mercy.” Our Lord Jesus Christ has traveled with us today over these 10 days to visit many churches in our diocese, to visit Panglao Island to consecrate a new church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear,” to celebrate Divine Liturgy in Arakan, to meet with all the clergy of the diocese, and to discuss the problems and issues facing us all, the clergy, and the Orthodox Christians of our Philippines.
We hope that the Lord will continue to assist us in the future, so that both our Church and the Philippine Diocese will flourish, grow, and grow stronger. Today, we held a prayer service at the Church of the Apostle Thomas, which is under construction, asking the Lord’s blessing to successfully complete this church, which will truly be magnificent, one of the largest churches in our diocese. And of course, we ask and pray to our heavenly patroness, Blessed Matrona of Moscow, while we are in the church dedicated to her, that she will assist and accompany us in all our endeavors!
And I sincerely thank you all for your shared prayers and for participating in my mission, which lasted almost 10 days. I hope that the Lord will bless me to return again and accomplish many more things, including finishing and consecrating the church, and to consecrate other churches and perform the sacred rites we plan to perform with God’s help!
May our Lord Jesus Christ and our heavenly angels—the guardians who protect us, accompany us, and guide us through life—protect us and help us!
